Goodbye Sweet Perú

Can you believe how fast the time has flown? I'm pretty blown away that this is the last email I'll be writing from a Peruvian Internet cafe with my black tag that's practically sown itself into my heart. I'm kind of at a loss for words, but I just want to share the love I've found in this special country and especially in this incredible work. Coming to Peru was more than a chance to meet and live a different culture, and I learned that pretty quickly after my first few days in Pátapo. It was even more awakening though to change from a hot, mosquito filled, sugar cane town outside of Chiclayo to the more isolated Guadalupe down south. In a town that is right next to a high hill with the Virgin Mary atop, I found faithful saints too and began to understand that the church is not floating on the surface here, but it's roots are deep and it is continuing to grow more and more rapidly. As I made a transition to Huanchaco, I developed a strong testimony of being my own commander, and understanding that I determine my own succes based on my faith in the Lord. I was sad to leave that beach-fronted town with artistic scenery but I couldn't have ended in a more beautiful spot than on the grounds of the Lord's House. Sleeping in a cuarto right next to the temple every night was a privilege but what was most exciting, is seeing that the Saints really are flocking towards the temple more and more. In reality, I can't write a list of all that I have learned, but the people I have been around in each of these places have left me more changed and improved than when I stepped off the plane in hot and dusty Chiclayo. 

A los amigos y mi familia que está en Perú, les quiero con todo mi alma. Hay una belleza que existe en Perú que es única y divina. No la encuentra en Machu Piccu ;), ni en las playas, ni en la comida, ni en el idioma. La encuentra en las personas que aman tan fuerte y son pioneros en una época de mucho obscuridad. Lo agradezco a Dios por enviarme a ustedes y nunca olvidaré las personas y las lecciones que aprendí. Tampoco no voy a dejar de hablar el idioma celestial (no es Alemán por los que vieron conferencia 😉) y cocinar ají de gallina. Volveré pronto y para los que no voy a ver, nos encontramos mas allá en los cielos, ¿diga? (: Les quiero muchísimo. Cuídense mucho.

Seems that that's all the time that I've got. I want to say that I have come to not just believe in Christ, but believe Christ and what He says. I believe His promise that those who ask will receive, and I have seen Him through the examples of so many people. The Church of Jesus Christ is the kingdom of God on earth and it is perfect and established in all parts of the world. The Book of Mormon is God's instrucction to us on how to get back home to Him and I read it every day to keep me on the path. I know that the purest objective of all that we do in the church is to keep our families protected, united, and happy. The Church of Jesus Christ is true, Joseph Smith restored it and brought the priesthood keys back again, and we will never lose it again. I love you all and I'll see many of you soon!!

Love,

Hermana Furness

P.S. I picked the most Peruvian photos I could from this past week and it turns out that I finally saw my first llama and we also ate guinea pig on top of that. Solid week!